This spring, something extraordinary set sail—without even touching the water. A 50-foot shrimp boat, built in 1949 by Robert Guidry, once cut through Gulf Coast waters and more recently floated (and occasionally sank) along the Ohio River. Now, thanks to the shared vision, tenacity, and logistical wizardry of a dedicated crew, it has found its forever home in the backyard of the Portland Museum in Louisville, Kentucky.
The vessel’s relocation marks a major milestone in the expansion of the AHOY Children’s Museum, an imaginative endeavor led by Danny Seim, AHOY Director, and Katy Delahanty, Executive Director of the Portland Museum. The boat will be transformed into an interactive play structure and stage, anchoring a whimsical, intergenerational learning landscape where history, imagination, and adventure converge.
A gift from the Vogt family, the boat was lovingly passed on by a young man named Alex, who decided to give it a new life. Special thanks go to Michael Weinhart, who has watched over the boat for the past year and a half at its former home at 5821 Utica Pike in Jeffersonville, Indiana. Though the boat may have sunk once or twice on his watch, Michael’s steadfast caretaking helped ensure its survival long enough to make this move possible.
The heavy lifting—literally—was executed by Pace Contracting, who project managed, gutted, and paid for the relocation process. Without their generosity and coordination, the relocation would still be a dream. And then, there’s the cowboy with the cranes: Steve Townsend of Padgett. With sheer determination, a deep bag of tools, and a knack for wrangling large, unwieldy objects, Steve brought the shrimp boat up and out of the Ohio River with style and skill. His love for making the impossible happen brought a sense of awe to the entire effort. We also can’t forget to thank Captain Pete O’Connell for his invaluable advice and Kerry Adkins for his help in preparing the boat for engine removal. Local folks came together and made sure we were able to get this project across the finish line.
The boat itself is a living artifact. Built in 1949, it’s a Robert Guidry model constructed from wood and steel. Measuring 50 feet in overall length with a 43.6 foot waterline, 14.1-foot beam, and 5.5-foot draft, the boat displaces 26.2 tons and carries a load capacity of 26 tons!
This boat’s journey is more than just a physical move—it’s a reimagining of history. As it settles into its new role as the heart of a playscape and stage at AHOY, it carries stories from the Gulf, from the Ohio, and now from Portland’s creative resurgence. It’s a symbol of what’s possible when community leaders, artists, builders, and dreamers all pull in the same direction.
As it gets cleaned up and worked on, we hope our neighbors will help and feel part of its journey.
Welcome aboard.
